Life's Travels and Observations

VALENTINE’S DAY: IT’S NOT ABOUT THE CARD

Each year, due to family birthdays, my husband and I are usually on a road trip on Valentine’s Day. This means we have been able to be with family on this “day of love”, which is a good thing. Each year we both purchase Valentine’s Day cards that we think best express how we feel about one another. There’s only one problem: my husband leaves the card at home in his dresser drawer. Every. Year.

The first few years this happened I would hand him my card with great anticipation, waiting for him to read the sentiment and then what I had written to him about our relationship. Then he would look at me and say sheepishly, “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. I left the card at home again.” Each time I heard those words I was crestfallen. And the scene repeated itself so often it became like Groundhog Day.

I would think: how can a man who remembers to bring his favorite cookies and his golf magazine on every road trip forget a card that is lying out on his dresser? I admit, I was pretty pissy about it the first few years. But then circumstances (and quite possibly some maturity) made me realize that it’s not about the card.

My husband tells me he loves me every day. Not just on Valentine’s Day or our anniversary. He tells me that every time I go out the door and when we go to bed at night. He does little things like get my paper for me every morning and sets up my coffee so it’s ready to brew when I get up(okay, this has gotten easier since we bought a Keurig, but still…). All in all, he’s a great guy who treats me very well. I finally realized that these little daily acts are far more important than a $4 Hallmark card.

So, ladies, if you’re a bit disappointed in your spouse or significant other today because you didn’t receive a card or – and this is the worst – your husband sent flowers to your home instead of your office, please take a lesson from me and look at the bigger picture.

2 comments on “VALENTINE’S DAY: IT’S NOT ABOUT THE CARD”

I so loved your Valentine’s Day message – I am a high school friend of Moe and love to follow your blog but that was special . . .my husband brings me a coffee and a half of banana in the morning and I thought it might stop with I retired last June but the “little things” have only gotten better!! Love the “bigger picture”!